NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/20
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves. There are many.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: DB Shyheim Carter
Chicago Bears
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Thomas Ives, DT LaCale London, LB Manti Te’o; London and Te’o tested positive for the coronavirus
Cleveland Browns
- Activated off practice squad IR: WR Ryan Switzer
- Released: DE Jamal Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: C Anthony Fabiano, TE Isaac Nauta
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: G Jeremiah Kolone
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Zack Bailey
- Placed on practice squad IR: TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Signed: S J.T. Hassell
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Niko Lalos, QB/WR Joe Webb
- Waived: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Brady Sheldon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Lavert Hill
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Jordan Matthews
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: WR Darvin Kidsy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR/KR Jaydon Mickens
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Taylor Heinicke
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID list: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated off IR: CB Anthony Averett
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID list: OL Wyatt Teller
- Activated from reserve/COVID list: DE Porter Gustin
- Placed on IR: WR Taywan Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from Raiders: DT Daniel Ross
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed off Bills’ practice squad: CB Daryl Worley
Washington Football Team
- Signed to active roster off practice squad: TE Marcus Baugh
Titans Place Adam Humphries On IR
Adam Humphries is hitting the shelf again. The Titans’ slot receiver will be put back on injured reserve which will sideline him for at least the next three weeks, the team announced Tuesday.
This IR placement is apparently related to ongoing concussion issues he has dealt with, which is never a good sign. Humphries played a big role early in the season, with at least four catches and 41 yards in each of his first four games. Humphries missed around a month with a concussion before returning this past week against the Browns. Considering he was immediately placed back on IR for the same issue, it’s a scary situation.
Obviously, the most important thing is Humphries’ brain health. If everything goes as smoothly as we’d all hope, the earliest he could return would be for Tennessee’s Week 17 game and then potentially the playoffs. The Titans inked the slot receiver to a four-year, $36MM deal in March of 2019.
His first year with the team was a bit of a disappointment, as he finished with only 374 yards in 12 games. That came on the heels of his breakout 2018 season with the Bucs, when he racked up 816 yards and five touchdowns. He looked well on his way to a much better second year in Tennessee before these issues unfortunately derailed it.
NFL Suspends Bengals S Shawn Williams, Titans DE Teair Tart
The NFL has suspended Bengals safety Shawn Williams and Titans defensive end Teair Tart one game apiece “for violations of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct rules,” per Michael Signora, NFL Senior Vice President of Football & International Communications (via Twitter). Specifically, both Williams and Tart stepped on opponents. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that both players will appeal their suspensions.
Williams violation took place during the second quarter of the Bengals loss to the Dolphins yesterday when he stepped on Dolphins lineman Solomon Kindley. The defensive back will be sidelined for Cincy’s game against the Cowboys next weekend. The 29-year-old has spent his entire eight-year career with the Bengals, compiling 419 tackles and 12 interceptions. He’s appeared in 10 games off the bench this season, collecting 11 tackles and one pass defended.
Tart’s violation occurred during the second quarter of the Titans’ loss to the Browns yesterday. The undrafted rookie out of FIU will be forced to miss Tennessee’s game against the Jaguars this Sunday. The 23-year-old has appeared in five games this season, collecting two tackles and one pass defended.
Meanwhile, Pelissero notes (via Twitter) that there won’t be any suspensions following yesterday’s Bengals/Dolphins skirmish. However, there’s a good chance fines will be coming for several individuals.
Eagles Cut OL Jamon Brown From Practice Squad
Jamon Brown‘s short stint with the Eagles has already come to an end. The veteran offensive lineman was released from the team’s practice squad today, with ESPN’s Tim McManus writing that the transaction was “a result of Brown violating team rules.”
According to multiple reports (including Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com), Brown was booted from the team hotel and sent home by Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro on Saturday evening. While specifics haven’t been reported, Brown’s banishment was due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” General Manager Howie Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson subsequently spoke with the lineman and informed him he was no longer part of the organization.
Following a disappointing stint with the Falcons in 2019, the former third-rounder joined the Bears practice squad back in September. A few weeks later, the Eagles came in and signed the 27-year-old to their active roster, and he started their Week 6 game in place of injured right guard Matt Pryor.
Brown was cut by Philly in late October but landed on the team’s practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster soon after, but he was demoted following the Eagles Week 7 contest. In total, Brown’s stint with the Eagles ended with him having appeared in two games (one start).
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/20
Today’s minor moves from around the league:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: OT Jake Rodgers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: DT Daniel Ross
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed off Saints practice squad: LB Joe Bachie
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Tim Harris Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner
- Waived: WR/KR Jaydon Mickens
Browns Claim WR Marvin Hall
The Lions dropped Marvin Hall over the weekend, but he’s caught on with a new team. The Browns have claimed the 27-year-old wide receiver, per a club announcement.
Hall, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Washington, seemed to have found a home in Detroit. After wandering the league early in his pro career, he managed 17 catches for 290 yards and two scores with the Lions in 2020. But, in an effort to see more from their younger players, the Lions cut him loose.
Hall — who previously suited up for the Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, and Bears — enjoyed a breakout performance in Week 8, catching four passes for 113 yards. He’ll do his best to replicate that for the Browns, who are riding a four-game winning streak and pushing to end their longstanding playoff drought. Hall will have a chance to make his debut on Monday night, when the Browns take on the Ravens in Cleveland.
Cowboys’ Zack Martin Done For Year
The Cowboys have placed guard Zack Martin on injured reserve with a calf injury. The All-Pro guard must be shelved for at least three games and this could very well mark the end of his season. 
In the dreadful NFC East, the playoffs are still possible for the 3-8 Cowboys. Their late-November loss to the Washington Football Team didn’t help matters, but they could still theoretically leapfrog the first-place Giants (5-7) and the rest of the division. They’ll have their work cut out for them on Tuesday night against the Ravens, when undrafted lineman Terence Steele is expected to start in his place.
Martin has done his best work on the interior, but Steele’s poor play forced the Cowboys to reshuffle the front five a few weeks back. Before they made the swap on Nov. 22, Steele ranked as the worst offensive tackle out of 78 qualified players this season, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics.
The Cowboys will also be without cornerback Anthony Brown and safety Donovan Wilson as they look to upset Baltimore. A loss — even in the NFC East — would almost certainly take them out of the postseason conversation.
Colts Le’Raven Clark Done For Year
Colts offensive lineman Le’Raven Clark is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Once confirmed via MRI, Clark will be placed on injured reserve and ruled out for the remainder of the year. 
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Clark was serving as the Colts’ starting left tackle in place of Anthony Castonzo. Now, they’re on to Plan C, likely third-string left tackle Chaz Green, who filled in after Clark was carted off. With all due respect to Clark, the Colts were already looking at a drop-off in talent when they lost Castonzo, who is making $17MM this year compared to his backup’s $910K salary.
The good news is that Green was neck-and-neck with Clark for the No. 2 LT job, though Clark edged him for his experience on the left side. The Colts still managed to get by Houston on Sunday, advancing to 8-4. Next, they’ll take on the Raiders in Las Vegas.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/20
A couple of minor moves from the past day to pass along:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID list: DE Amani Bledsoe
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: FB Cullen Gillaspia
- Activated from IR: RB David Johnson, LB Kyle Emanuel
Bledsoe tested positive for COVID-19 this morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets, although obviously there wasn’t enough concern to cancel their game against the Dolphins. Bledsoe had been playing a big role on Cincy’s reshuffled defensive line in recent weeks, notching almost half the defensive snaps. Johnson and Emanuel both missed a few games with concussions and returned for Houston today.